Welcome to Travel Tuesday! If you’re looking for a nice shaded hike for the summer that isn’t too strenuous, the Purisima Creek Trail to Craig Britton Trail is a great one to check out in the bay area!
Purisima Creek Trail to Craig Britton Trail
Distance: 3.5 miles (out + back)
Elevation: 1095ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Duration: ~2 hours
Trailhead Address: Redwood Trail, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Parking: Limited
The trails closer to where we live are mostly exposed and it was pretty hot, so we figured we’d venture out to another part of the bay last summer!
This trail features coastal redwoods (one of the oldest trees in the world!) – they were the dominant trees in the northern hemisphere back when dinosaurs were still around! Now, they’re (sadly) only found on the west coast.
We saw a few mountain bikers along the trail here and it looks like a lot of people use it for trail running as well! It’s a downhill-then-back-uphill type of trail. Most of the trail is pretty wide so there’s plenty of space for both hikers and bikers alike.
Be careful of where you step! You might come across banana slugs while you’re on the trail! Since they’re so bright in color, they’re pretty hard to miss. We learned about em’ back in the days of science camp — they are so named because of their bright color, just in case you were wondering.
If you go here in the spring, there are usually more wildflowers to be seen! Since we came in the summer, we enjoyed mostly the shaded forest and the river. (Non-exposed trails are glorious in the summer heat!)
- Have you ever seen a banana slug?
- What are your favorite summer hikes?
20 comments
Skip to comment form
What a gorgeous trail! Love the redwoods and checking out the old growth in forests like this. It really makes you appreciate the great outdoors!
Agreed! I need to find more trails like this one. :]!
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: September 2021
I’m not going to lie, I’m currently eating some dried mango and the resemblance to the banana slug is uncanny. I’ve pushed the mango to one side of the moment :)
What a beautiful trail! I can imagine on a really hot day how wonderful the shelter from the redwoods would be. What a stunning place.
Oh noooo, hahaha. I’m so sorry! :P
The shade was definitely much welcomed! :]
I’ve never seen a banana slug before. Love its striking color but I’d still give it a wide berth. Not a big fan of slugs.
Ummi | Ummi Goes Where? recently posted…Day Trip to San Marino from Bologna, Italy
hehe, I like seeing em’ but also try to give em’ a good amount of space!
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: September 2021
This is my kind of trail: shaded and beautiful. The banana slugs is interesting because I don’t think I’ve seen it in Texas.
I love both those qualities in a trail as well! :P
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen them outside of California!
I love hikes with lots of trees and shade! Looks perfect banana slugs included!
They’re the best (especially in the summer)! :]
ooh I love a woodland hike! They always look so pretty and a great way to way to get some shade. I’d love to try this trail out one day, thanks for the great guide!
Me too! :] I hope you get to check it out someday!
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: September 2021
Purisima Creek Trail to Craig Britton Trail looks like a very scenic and peaceful hike. I’ve never seen a banana slug before…so cool looking!
I love how brightly colored they are! :D
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: September 2021
I always love your hiking photos! Keep them coming
Thank you! I really need to start blogging again!! I’ve been slacking so much lately.
Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: November 2021
Looks like the perfect hike for a hot summer day!
Definitely! I’m probably gonna run back there and check out the other trails when it gets hot again! :]
Lol I am so glad I am not the only one with multiple photos of banana slugs! I always love seeing them! This forest looks like such a gorgeous area to walk. :)
p.s. heh, I think I should start hiking with elevation gain in ft. It sounds so much more impressive. ;)
Josy A recently posted…Bald Hills – Jasper Hikes
haha, you’re definitely not alone! They look so cool! :P
I always look up the conversion for the hikes you write about because I can never remember the conversion, hehehe. :P
Farrah recently posted…Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle